Ceremony for Modell postponed for week

Jamal Lewis ran for 114 yards, breaking the 2,000 yard mark to move him into second place all time behind Eric Dickerson for the most rushing yards in a single season, as the Ravens earned a hard fought, overtime victory over the rival Pittsburgh Steelers. Before the game, the Cincinnati Bengals lost, allowing the Ravens to clinch their first AFC North division title and a wild-card berth.

Jeff ZrebiecSun Staff

Art Modell's induction into the Ravens' Ring of Honor, scheduled for halftime of last night's Ravens-Pittsburgh Steelers game at M&T Bank Stadium, was postponed because the team owner was battling a respiratory infection and did not attend the game.

It was the first Ravens home game Modell has missed.

"I'm disappointed, but I'd rather be well and disappointed," Modell, 78, said in a phone interview before kickoff.

Modell was even included on the injury report that ran early in the game on the stadium's video board, showing him listed as out with the flu.

The ceremony honoring Modell has been rescheduled for halftime Saturday, when the Ravens play host to the Tennessee Titans in an AFC wild-card game.

Last night marked the last regular-season game as an owner for Modell, who has owned an NFL franchise for 43 years.

Modell owned the Cleveland Browns from 1961 to 1995 before moving the franchise to Baltimore in 1996 after a bitter dispute with Ohio government officials over stadium issues. He will sell his stake in the franchise to minority owner Steve Bisciotti after this season.